Trailer for boat handling



Nov. 14, 1950 E. w. OETH 2,529,849

TRAILER FOR BOAT HANDLING Filed Sept. 30, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

w W M 5 V s, w mp 2 d 5 S W. 0 N t 0 2 e e a 7 w W 2 10 a I E W OETH TRAILER FOR BOAT HANDLING Nov. 14, 1950 Flled Sept 30, 1946 Nov. 14, 1950 E. w. OETH TRAILER FOR BOAT HANDLING Filed Sept. 50, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 /4a INVENTOR.

box 0e Wily/Cam 04X)? /Z- /Za M arran/yzy Patented Nov. 14, 1950 TRAILER FOR BOAT HANDLING Earl William Oeth, Evansville, Ind., assignor of one-third to Ruby A. Oeth, Evansville, Ind.

Application September 30, Serial No. 700,313

My invention relates broadly to boat handling mechanism and more particularly to an apparatus for facilitating the transporting and launching of boats.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a practical construction of boat handling apparatus which may be manufactured at relatively low cost on a mass production scale for facilitating the transporting, launching and handling of boats.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel construction of boat handling apparatus by which a boat may be readily prepared for transportation, launched and retrieved by an individual without assistance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of boat handling apparatus which involves the application of special hardware to boats of standard construction for co-action with a special design of trailer in which the boat supporting means includes shock absorbing means facilitating safe transportion'of the boat through a coupling with a suitable vehicle; I I

Still another'object of my invention is to provide an arrangement for'pendently and r'emovably suspending a boat from a trailer frame for coupling to a vehicle for transpor'tatio'njto and from the launching or retrieving location;

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-65),

Another object of my-invention isto provide 7 a novel construction offulcrum' support and resilient pendent suspension between a boat and a trailer frame for facilitating thehandling of a standard'boat by an individual'without lassistance.

Other and further objects of'my invention re- 'side in an'improved draw bar suspension means for handling a boat by means of a trailer," as set forth' more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to 'the' accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trailer of my invention showing a boat suspended'thereby and ready for transportation to a launching location; Fig; 2 is a top plan view of thetrailer of my invention showing a fragmentary portion of the boat suspended'thereby; Fig. 3"is a sideelev'ational view of the trailer illustrating a fragmentar'y portion of the boat suspended thereby, the View being broken away'to more clearly illustrate the pendent suspension niea'ns'in sid'eelevation; Fig.

4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 withportions of the buffers carried'by the transverse trailer frame and part of the transverse trailer frame broken away and illustrated in section; Fig, 5 i a f ag.

' without assistance? 1 tially on line 66 of Fig. 5 through the clevisat the bow of the boat; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary 1ongitudinal sectional view through the boat and showing the'pendent resilient supporting means therefor for engagement with the longitudinally extending shaft of the trailer; Fig. 8 'is-a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 8'-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on lines-9 of Fig-7; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the manner of couplingor uncoupling the pendent suspension means with respect to the hardware fitting carried by the bottom of the boat; Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line llll of Fig. 7; and, Fig. 12 is a erspective View of the suspensionlink which interconnects the longitudinal shaft of the trailer and the resilient suspension means for resiliently mounting the boat with respect to the trailer.

My invention is directed to a construction of trailer and arrangement of'coacti'ng hardware for the mounting of aboat onthe trailer-for facilitating the handling of the boat by an individual I Myinventi'on has proven'highly practical in *manufacture/ production and operation; and

while one preferred embodiment of my invention will beaexplaine'd'hereinafterl desire that it be understood that I realize that modifications in form and varrangement of the trailer-andthe :hardware associated with the boat may be employed and I'intend no limitations upon my inventionherein other than may be imposed by theclaims appended tothis specification.-

-1 -'I'h':t'rai1er is constructed from tubular pipe :sfo'rminga' rigid frame including atra'nsverse saddle-like support the depending endsof-fwhic'h terminate in yoke-like members forming journals for-the supporting wheels. The frame of the trailer is substantially braced by coacting pipe .members -:wh'ich are interconnected adjacent the end of the trailer substantially in the form of a Y with.alongitudinallyextending central shaftlikertubular member slidably extendable through the trailer frame. The longitudinal shaft isprovldedat its end with coupling means for quick attachment or detachmentwith respect to a vehicle. The saddle-like frame is adapted teem-- brace a standard boat that may be legally transported over a highway. The boat is equipped with 3 special hardware including a clevis constituting a fulcrum means in the bow of the boat and a pendent engaging means adjacent the stern of the boat or sufiiciently removed from the center thereof to insure stability in equilibrium of the boat when pendently supported from the trailer. The fulcrum means in the bow of the boat is so arranged that the longitudinally extending.

tubularshaft maybe :readily received therein and suitably confined *with respect thereto as the shaft is telescopically inserted through suitably spaced sleeve-like fittings associated with the trailer frame. The longitudinally extending shaft is laid in the clevis carried by the bow with a special shock absorbing "fitting interposed therebetween and secured thereinrby a'removable pin-like member and adjustedto-a position in which the end of the shaft is substantially aligned with the hardware carried by the bottom of the boat intermediate the stern and center thereof.

Thes s/hock absorbing :m an e ated with the cleyisis in the former" atubular sleeve-like mem- .The pendant support for the boat includes. a

hardware fitting which-is permanently mounted in the bottom of .the boat-directly over the keel thereof, and intermediate the center. and:stern of .the; beat. Thegflange; is provided with a centrally internally extendinggscrewethreaded portion. The screw threads are kept well lubricated and are arran ed to. receive thesorew-threaded end of a guide cylinder which .forms an enclosureqfor 1a shockabsorbing coil: spring member. Aplunger memberiextends longitudinallythr011gh-.the;guide amiit e shock absorbing coil spring. and itermi- =tnat szmza;lugged, end portionwithin the cyli The plunger member is provided-ewithoan:eyelet ir nitheend there thmhgh rwhichnthe :shaft of the trailenirameis adapted to be. eng f rp ndently susp nding 1-thegmassof .the.:b0at.and cushioning the mass;of,.the boat by means of 1 the;;: sh,oc. absorbing. coil spring member: housed witlrihvtheiguide cylinder. :The .efiective. length ugf the plungerv 318 so gselectedzthat .the...boat. is pendent-1 suspended in such .a position that the 'gunwales of :the-boat-are normally spaced from the saddle like transverse portion of. the-trailer and injurytqthe boat prevented by suitable. re-

..silient cushioningmeans appliedto the. trailer :imme: 1

v .Beferringto the :drawings in more detailrefverence character I representsthe boattobe transported, launched and retrieved by an 'individual using the trailer of wmy'invention; ..It will be observed that, the harWare-for establish- -ing .eoupling relationship. with the. pendent re- -sil ien t'gsuspension means :is located between'tw'o .of-the-t a i ve seribs Z-Land 3 of. the boat-inter- L mediate; the. center "of the boat :and the stern h i% 9, t am rse ribs 2 e ds re arran ed above the bottom 4 of the boat beneath which the longitudinally extending keel '5 extends. A centrally arranged base member 5 is disposed besilientsuspension means") which connects to the longitudinally connecting shaft H of the trailer.

The hardware 9 is constituted by a flange having a central internally screw-threaded portion 9a and a flat circular flange portion 91). The flat .circul'ar flange portion 9b is apertured in symmetrically arranged diametrically disposed positions. In two of these positions I provide bolt members I2 and ['4 which pass through the keel 5 and are secured thereagainst by headed ends I21; and 14a and which project through flange 9b and are secured with respect thereto ,by; uts lZb and 45b. In the other diametrically ppposite apertured positions of .flange 9b 1 provide securing bolt members l5 and I6 whichiha-ve their .headed ends countersunk intothesupportingbase Ii -and which have their upstanding ends isecured to flange 9;b,by means-of nuts I.5b and H51). Thus, the hardware;securelyattached to -the supporting; base .5,-;may. be centered above thekeel 5 and rigidly secured with respect thereto. Theinternally screw-threaded; portion 15a .of the hardware 9 which is attached to the boat bottom forms acoupling'means for the screw-threaded end Ila ofguide cylinder j1-.,of the pendent resilient suspension means H1. The guide; cylinder llhas a .head win the upper gend-ther-eof which-is provided with a square'aperture represented at, i 8a for the passage of the suspensionlink Hlshown more particularly in :Eig.--1;2. The aperture Illa is polygonal in cross vsection and correspondswith the polygonal section r'l9a'of suspension 1-9. .-Thesuspensionlink 1'3 has/the lowenextrernity thereof reduced to. cylindrical section represented .at. I 9? of smaller gage than the polygonal section I91; enabling the linkq-jg .to rhe -readily passed .throll hiaperture 18min; head H3 ofjguidescylin'der 1 1 and .;through the *convolutions ofcoil spring 20 d hr heflan eplate .2! to establish screw-threaded connection with-confiningi-znut 22 h hen g s s rewith eads v1.9a ;on the -:end. of suspension link is for thereby maintaining the us nsio k .1 in la.- con inuously tensioned -conditienla ainst :withdrawal axiallyof the guide cylinder.

I The-upper extremityzofgthe: suspension :link I9 rterminatesain aneyeshotm eta-11911.1: tThe eyeztild seryes ;as -an engagingxmeans for .thegnecessell notch I jaiformed .inthe end of the longitudinally extend ng shaftjll :of theit-railerrframe; The trailer frame comprises the'istransverse sa'ddle member" ZE-formed' from metallic tubul ar material proiecting on opposite sides of the b'oatl for a distance: sufficientito "clean-the sides of the boat andxdepending downwardly. and "terminating" in =yokes 24-and 25swhichr-"serve as iournalsfor the Wh'e'eIsJZQi, and. 2:1. ifiansverse saddle-like frametr23 is rigidly braced bys. tubular frame porr- 'tlOI'lSuWhlCh may :take: a variety of shapes, 'ibut .whichaI. have indicateduconsist of; tubular mem- :bers' and'2flizconneotedi with J the .saddlee'like .framejnzand erminatingzin :a :sleevee'likehead :3! torm ngwa substantiall Y-shane ii Ere-me which i s :braced'hy in erconnectin tubular, portions 3L3? and 33. Theinterconnected tubular .frarn portions 3J,-32 and 33. are further-braced bile.

, by angularly disposedtubular frame-like. portions 34 and 35. I

The transversely extending saddle-like frame 23 is provided with, a centrally arranged sleeve- .like supporting member 36;.through which the longitudinally extending central shaft-like tubular member. I I is adapted to. adjustably slide.

The tubular member II passes through the member II-is generally determined the buffer 31 is confined in the selected position by means of collars 39 and 40 which may be clamped on member II by means of set ,screws39a, and 40a for confining the buffer 3,! in selected position. The

clevis 38 which constitutes the hardware fitting that is mounted adjacent the bow of the boat is secured in appropriate manner, such as by welding or otherwise, tothe plate M. The plate M is secured by means of bolts 42 ina, position adjacent the bow of the boat I in such arrangement that the axis of the clevis substantially coincides with the central beam of the boat. The sides of association with a flange 43b to facilitate insertion of the pin and removalof the pin when the longitudinally extending shaft I I is being located in position.- When the shaft II is confined within clevis 38 shock and vibration is reduced by the cushioning effect of buffer 31.

The end of the shaft II is provided with a -downwardly-extendingangular portion 44 rigidlybraced with respect to the longitudinally extending portion ;I I by suitable brace 45. The extremity of the downwardly extending frame portion 44 terminates in-a plate member 46 and coupling member 4:7; attachable to'an automo- The skid member 48 is supported by plate member 46 and prevents the end of the shaft from plowing into the ground. It will be observed that skid member 48 projects rearwardly of plate 46 to provide a lip j-48a-.-around whicha tow chain or rope may. be anchored for attachment to a vehicle in pulling the trailer.

In order to prevent injury to the boat, under conditions where the boat when suspended by the trailer may tend to sway from side to side, I ar- In the operationof the-boat handling apparatus of my invention it wil l be readily understood that a boat resting on the ground may have the trailer moved to a straddling position over the boat and the shaft II moved to the required adjusted positionthrough sleeves 30 and 36 as may be subsequently fixed by the bolt 54 entering the selected aperture 55, 56, 51 or 58 in the shaft II. The shaft I I is then raised so as to align the end of the shaft with the protruding eye I9d in the suspension rod I9 associated with the shock absorbing coil spring 20. The front end ofthe shaft I I may then be lowered and secured in the clevis 3B in thebow of the boat raising the boat on a substantially even keel. The trailer is then ready to be coupled tothe car for transportation. When the boat is moved to the launching location, the trailer may be uncoupled from the vehicle. .The traileris then moved to the shoreline and the boatlmoved into the water as far as practicable, the wheels of the trailer actually submerging below'the water. The boat may now be detached from the trailer by simply removing the pin 43 from the clevis 38, raising the frame of the trailer from position to disengage the shaft II from the .shock absorber I0 and the trailer maythen be and with the shaft I I extending upwardly'at an angle. The end I Ia of the shaft II is engaged through the shock absorber suspension rodeyelet 19d and then the shaft I I and frame of the trailer angularly shifted about the axes of the wheels 26 and 21 of a cantilever, as centers, thereby lifting the stern of the boat. The shaft II is then laid .in the clevis 38 and the pin 43 inserted, whereupon the trailer is ready to be pulled out of the water with the boat attached thereto. Thisis accom- .plished entirely manually or through a rope attached to the vehicle depending upon the, nature of the launching site. The end of the shaft may then be attached to the mobile unit and ready for transporting. It will be observed thatallof these functions including both detachment and attachment of the boat to the trailermay be performed by one person without other assistance.-

For situations where the trailer and boat is bogged down, the skid 48 adjacent' the end of the shaft l I makes it possible to skid the trailer from the water by a rope attached to an automobile. The entire unit is built-in such a way that flexibility and rigidity is achieved. Recent road tests have proven that this unit may bedriven at high speed safely. Rough roads, gullies, and rough terrain, do not effect the boat is any way; Road shock of any nature is positively not transmitted to the boat and is very definitely absorbed in-the spring suspension mechanism I II. A unit after having been drivenunder all conditions over 600 miles was analyzed and no ill eifectsfound on the boat. Toe in and alignment on the trailer after rigorous tests did not-varyin original alignment. This method of handling boats-eliminates allphysical strain in lifting; it also eliminates the road and wind hazards ,of carrying a boat on the top of ,a car. Luggage may be carried in the boat as well as all equipment and gear for'outdoor activities. Loaded boats may be, as easily launchedvand removed from the wateryas an unloaded one. I emphasize the fact that- .in-transportation the method of suspension which I employ does not subjectthe boat to appreciable sideto-side sway. Y

While .I have described-my invention in one of its Preferredembodiments I realize'that changes may be made in the structure of the trailer and supporting means and I desire that it be understood that I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of der and detachably connected-with said frame support, and forming a single pendant suspension ior the boat from said trailer. -2.' I-n an apparatus of the class described, a boat having a 'clevis mounted adjacent the bow thereof, a screw-threaded flange supported adjacent'- the stern thereof, a trailer-including a frame straddling said-boat and terminating in a wheeled support, said 'framesupport including a resilient sleeve-like member aligned with said clevis, a

s'haft'm'ember adjustably positioned through said 1 resilient sleeve-like member and engageable by said clevis, shock absorbing -means detachably connected with the screw-threaded flange adjacent the-stern'of the boat, and resilient'means for establishing a single-pendant centrally aligned connection between the end of said shaft and said shock absorbing means.

3. 'In an apparatus of the class described, a heat having hardware fittings adjacent each end thereof, a trailer includinga wheeled support straddling said boat and'm'eans establishing detachable connections between said wheeled support and the hardware fittings in said boat,'the --eonnection between said wheeled'support and the ='--har -dwareifitting adjacent the-bow of the boat -incl udinga resilient cushioning sleeve and the -connection between said wheeled support'and the h'ai' dware fitting adjacent the stern of the boat *i-ncludinga pendantly suspended spring loaded centra'lly aligned shock absorber, and a pair of sym metrically arranged resilient bumpers disp'osed iii-spaced positions onsaid wheeledsup- '-=port'for cushioningmovement of the boat with respect "to said wheeledsupport.

4. In apparatus'of the class described, a boat having-fittings secured adjacent each end thereof and disposed substantially on the fore and aft e'en-ter line, a trailerincluding a wheeled support straddling said boat, resilient means for detach 'ablyfsecuring saidsupport to said fittings, the 7 means adjacent the stern of *the boat including an -ex pans'ible and contractible v shock absorber andresilient bumpers disposed on said support to engage and space said boat therefrom.

'5;-'In -apparatus of the class described, a boat "having-fittings secured adjacent each end thereof and dispose'd substantially on thefore and an; center line, a trailer including a wheeled sup- "port straddling saidboat, means including a resilient sleeve for detachably securing said support -to-the fitting adjacent the bow of said boat, -'=means including an expansible and contractible shock absorber forsecuringsaid' support to the fitting adjacent the stern of said boatand resil- .ient bumpersdisposedon said support-to engage of and disposed substantiallyon the -fore-and aft center line, a ;trailer including a wheeled support straddling. said boat, and resilient means for detachably securing said support to said fittings-the means-adjacent the stern of the boat including an expansible and contractible shock absorber.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described, a boat having a fulcrum device secured to the bow anda fitting secured adjacent-the. stern, a trailer comprising a frame andwheeled support, connection meansbetween said frame and the fulcrum deviceadjacent thebow-of the boat and connectionmeans between 'said frame and'the fitting adjacent the stern of'the'boat, saidlast mentioned connection means including a guide cylinder detachably engaging the fitting adjacent the stern of the boat, -a coil spring and a coacting plunger operatively connected with said coil spring and movable axially of said cylinder and detachably connected with said frame and forming a single pendant suspension for the boat from said'trailer.

8. A trailer for boat handlingcomprising-a frame and wheeled support,--a f-ulcrumdevice for securing said trailer to-a boat, a--fittingfor connecting the trailer to the boat at'a location spaced'from said fulcrum device, a guide -c-ylinder, means for detachablyconnecting said guide cylinder to said-fitting, and a-coil spring and a, coacting plunger operatively connected with said coil spring and movable axially-of said cylinder and detachably connected with said frame and forming a pendant suspension forthe'boat from said trailer. 5

9; A two-wheeled trailer-for boat handling comprising aunitary frame rockable about the axis-of the wheels, a'fulcrum device for securing said trailer toa boat, an upstanding fittingsecured to the boat 'for connecting the trailer to said boat at a point spaced'from-said fulcrum device in alignment vvitl 1 --'said fulcrum device along the longitudinal center line of the boat, said fitting including vertically disposed shock absorbing means detachabl'y connected with said frame and constituting a single pendant suspension for the boat fromsaid trailer.

EARL WILLIAM OETH.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of; record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES- PATENTS- 

